Thursday, June 22, 2006

OWLS BOW OUT OF CWS

WHAT A GREAT YEAR AND GREAT MEMORIES!
By Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls, the last seeded eam in the College World Series, bowed out as they lost for the second straight day to the Oregon state Beavers by a score of 2-0.

Usually, I spend this space giving a recap of the game. But I’m not doing this tonight. Instead, I want to salute Coach Wayne Graham and every player on the Rice Owls for a fantastic season. Coach Graham, you are simply the best there is right now—period and end of story. I’ve enjoyed watching you coach and manage this team. I hope to for years to come as well.

I can’t imagine the disappointment that the players are feeling tonight. Yesterday, you were one game away from the weekend series. Today, you’re getting ready to come back. Remember this—how many teams were left when you started play today? THREE. For this team to make it as far as it did is a tribute to the fine talent that is on this team. This team has nothing whatsoever to hang their heads about. The players may feel differently about that, but I hope in time that they can look back on this season and remember it as a truly great season.

I have so many memories from this season—as I am sure many of you do as well. Who can ever forget the way Aaron Luna started off the season—with two home runs? Who can forget the Friday night matchups with “Steady Eddie” on the mound? Who can forget Adam Zornes coming out of nowhere to add some power to the lineup? Who can forget Bryce Cox’s comeback from the difficulties he experienced earlier this year to being someone that could shut a team completely down?

There’s not a player on this team that didn’t contribute in some way or another. Some contributed with big bats. Some contributed with their gloves. Others had key hits. Every one of you is a winner.

In the next few weeks, we will try to add some perspective to this, as well as a few interviews and some pictures I have not yet published. I hope you will check back in and see what’s added. I think you’ll enjoy.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

AP PICS FROM WEDNESDAY'S GAME vs. OSU

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaabb/gallery;_ylt=AvAAiF6k6m_I6tziteDyy.0MwLYF

Here's the link to the AP photos from Wednesday's game against OS
U. It appears to have quite a few pictures, which may cover theentire CWS to date. The pictures are excellent.

BEAVERS TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

OSU Wins; Rice and OSU in Winner Take All Game Thursday
By Mark Anderson

The Oregon State Beavers took a walk on the wild side Wednesday night to force a one game,winner take all scenario at Rosenblatt Stadium on Thursday.

Craig Crow did a great Houdini impression in the first two innings, getting out of some pretty tight spots in the first two innings. But the third time was the charm for the Beavers as they scored three runs off of Crow in the third to take the early lead that they would never relinquish. Crow, who normally is a control pitcher, didn’t have his control tonight, as his box score indicated Crow faced fourteen hitters, giving up four hits, three walks, and two hit batters before being relieved by Bobby Bramhall.

Daniel Turpen was the story of the night, though. Turpen had only started one game this year, and was picked to start the most important game of the year. He was simply nothing short of spectacular, giving up only three hits, a walk, and a hit batter over 6 2/3 innings. Oregon State Head Coach Pat Casey said of Turpen afterwards, “We were on the last leg, and we asked (Daniel) Turpen to go out and give us a good start. He pitched a heck of a ball game against a great club.” His pitches were enough to keep the Owls offense—a run-scoring machine—off-stride the whole night. Josh Rodriguez summed it up best when he said, “They threw strikes. We couldn’t get anything going on offense. He (Daniel Turpen) got outs when he needed them.”
Wayne Graham was not down in spite of this loss. After the game, Graham said, “Our best baseball may be ahead of us. It was a fun game to watch. There were four or five great plays out there. . . It has a chance to be a great baseball game. They have pitchers rested and so do we. It should be a great game.”
There has been no announcement of who will take the hill for the Owls as of this writing for the winner-take-all game. I’ve tried to avoid speculation on this, and will do so again. If I get official word beforehand and have opportunity to post it, I will. Look for links to pictures here shortly from tonight’s game as well.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

CSF Survives to Eliminate #1 Seed Clemson

Rice to Face Oregon State
By Mark Anderson

Cal State Fullerton not only showed resilience today—they sent the top ranked seed in the CWS packing as CSF came back and won by a score of 7-6. David Cooper’s fifth hit of the game climaxed the comeback for CSF and gave them the victory over the Clemson Tigers. The win matches the number three seed in the CWS tournament against a pitching rich North Carolina team. If CSF does not win against North Carolina, they will be eliminated and North Carolina will advance to a best of three series for the final weekend of the season. That game will be the early game on Wednesday.

In the other elimination game of the day, Oregon State jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back as they move on to face Rice on Wednesday. Mike Stutes turned in a sterling effort, not giving up a hit until the fifth. He ended up pitching 6 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and one run on a LOOOONG homerun by Dennis Raben that had a movie, a stewardess, and a seven-course meal on board as well. If you weren’t tuned in to see that home run, or didn’t get whiplash in the stands watching that majestic shot, trust me, you will see it again if you check out Sportscenter on ESPN. The Beavers will face the Owls in Wednesday’s late game in a win or go home game as well.

More Pics

MORE PICS FROM LAST NIGHT'S WIN OVER MIAMI

I came across this just a few moments ago--lots of action pics (like I hope you're used to seeing on here!).

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaabb/slideshow;_ylt=Augsi7FPBXqFnsBbSY9aNBoMwLYF

Link to photos from Rice-Miami

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/apphoto/wire?id=3170

There's few pictures of Rice and Miami CWS game at this link.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Rice Wins Tight One Over Miami

St. Clair Brilliant; Defense Not, But Enough For a W
By Mark Anderson

What else does Coach Wayne Graham have up his sleeve—a rabbit?

Starting your closer is, well, unconventional to say the least. But not when that starter is Cole St. Clair, a young man with a lion’s heart and a fierce will to win—not to mention a great fastball and nice breaking pitch to go with it. St. Clair was nothing short of spectacular, giving up only three hits and one run—unearned—to earn the win for the Owls Monday.

Tyler Henley got things started off right in the first inning for the Owls when he homered to lead off the first. Greg Buchanan follwed with a single to right. Brian Friday laid down a sacrifice bunt, and the catch was muffed by the first baseman, who seemed to catch a glimpse of Buchanan turning second on the play, and going in to third when he couldn’t handle the throw. After J-Rod struck out, Savery lifted a fly ball to left to bring in Buchanan and give St. Clair a 2-0 lead.

While St. Clair was brilliant, the defense—normally very solid—wasn’t so brilliant tonight. With the bases loaded, Jon Jay hit what started out as a routine end of inning double play grounder. Suddenly, the ball handcuffed a sure-handed Buchanan, and brought in the first run. Valencia followed with a sharp grounder to third, and J-Rod threw home and Lehmann to first for a rather unconventional double play to end the inning and preserve the lead, 2-1.

Rice scored the winning ruin in the next at bat when Luna led off with a single and Lehmann reached on an error on his sacrifice bunt. Jordan Dodson then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up a base. That brought up Kenny Ford, who grounded to second while Luna came across the plate for a 3-1 lead.

In the seventh, with Bobby Bell on the mound, Weeks reached on a bunt with one out. Giles then followed with a single just off of the outstretched glove of Josh Rodriguez. With one out, Jon Jay singled sharply to right. Weeks was held at third because of Jordan Dodson’s arm. This play would be one that would come back to haunt the Hurricanes, because it in retrospect might have cost them the tying run. That was the end for Bobby Bell, and Bryce Cox came on to pitch. Valencia reached on a fielder’s choice, and there is little doubt a second run would have scored at this point. Instead, it was only Weeks one run that scored. But that’s all the Canes would get in this inning, leaving the score at 3-2.

Things got a little dicey for Cox in the ninth inning, but he ended up striking out the Cane’s twp most dangerous hitters to end the ballgame to record his fourth save.

The loss drops Miami into the loser’s bracket, and the only door to the best of three series is three consecutive wins. For Rice, it puts them in control of this side of the bracket, not having to play again until Wednesday.
A conventional win? Hardly. But in the College World Series, a win is a win, no matter how it comes. And in these games, the little things meant a lot. Jordan Dodson is the unsung hero of this game with his arm being the reason Miami didn’t send it’s fastest runner to the plate, and also for laying down a sacrifice bunt to put the winning run on third for Kenny Ford. The Owls are now one win away from the final weekend in Omaha, and three from a national championship.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Photos of Rice's Win Over Georgia in CWS

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/apphoto/wire?id=3170

ESPN hasa great page on the win on Saturday for the Rice Owls over the Georgia Bulldogs. Check it out!

Rice Leashes Bulldogs, 6-4

Comeback in Seventh, Cox, Help Owls Move By Dawgs
By Mark Anderson

The Dawgs of Georgia had their bats leashed by Eddie Degerman in the opening game of the College World Series as he held the Dawgs to only one hit over 7 1/3 innings. What began as a pitcher’s battle turned into a game of high octane scoring over the last three innings, but Rice was able top outlast Georgia and come back from a 4-2 deficit to win the game by a score of 6-4.

Both Georgia and Rice missed early chances. Georgia loaded up the bases on three Eddie Degerman walks in the second, but Degerman was able to strike out the side to avoid the damage. Rice also opened the second with walks to Rodriguez and Savery, but were unable to capitalize after Luna struck out, Lehmann’s shot to right—that looked like a gapper—was caught—And Dodson grounded out to end the inning.

The Owls got on the board first in the fourth when Joe Savery walked to open the inning. Luna struck out on a called pitch that appeared high. Danny Lehmann appeared to be hit by a pitch, but it was ruled a foul ball and Lehmann eventually popped out. That left it up to Jordan Dodson, who muscled a pitch off his hands into center for the first base hit of the game, and also driving in Savery, who had advanced there earlier on a wild pitch. Dodson went to second on the error by the centerfielder, but was stranded. Rice had the early lead, 1-0.

Rice added another run, but missed a big opportunity to break the game open in the sixth when J-Rod led off with a single to right, and Joe Savery followed with another single to right just out of the outstretched glove of the second baseman. Luna was hot by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Lehmann just missed his second grand slam of the season when he hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored J-Rod and moved the runners up to second and third. With the infield in, Jordan Dodson hit a rocket to the shortstop for the easy throw out to first, and Zornes struck out to end the inning. But now Rice had added to their lead by a score of 2-0.

Meanwhile, Eddie Degerman found enough control to take a no-hitter into the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second via walks, a bunt that went foul kept the no-hitter and shutout intact. But the next hitter singled to center to end the no-no and put a run on the board for the Bulldogs. Cole St. Clair was summoned from the bullpen at that point, and Dunn hit a Baltimore chopper to Rodriguez, who threw wildly to first, allowing the tying run to score. Wyatt hit a bullet to Rodriguez, and instead of a tailor made double play, it went off of his glove and allowed the third run of the inning to score. That was the end of St. Clair, as Graham summoned Bryce Cox from the pen. Cox was immediately greeted on the first pitch with another RBI single to make the score 4-2. An infield single loaded the bases for the Bulldogs. One Bryce Cox strikeout and one groundout from Rodriguez to Buchanan ended the inning, but now the Bulldogs had the lead, 4-2.

With one out in the seventh, Buchanan hit a rocket that came off the shortstop’s glove with one out for a single. Brian Friday then followed with a double down the left field line, and Wayne Graham rolled the dice and sent the runner around third, and that gamble paid off with a run. Josh Rodriguez rebounded from the top of the seventh with a solid single and advanced to second on the throw. Savery followed with a single to center that scored two more runs. Luna was then hit by another pitch to load the bases. Lehmann struck out, but Jordan Dodson had some redemption of his own with a run-scoring single to make the score 6-4, Rice.

In the eighth, the Rice bullpen took off the “hit me here” tag and became the force they have been all year. Bryce Cox had easy eighth and ninth innings, setting down the last eight hitters he faced to pick up his fifth win against only one loss all year. Rip Warren, the highly regarded reliever for Georgia, was ripped and ended up with the loss.

Monday, June 12, 2006

OU-RICE GAME PICS #3

Savery begins the celebration after the last out.
Cox makes the final pitch of the game.
Diving back in at first.
"You're the man!" says J-Rod and Buchanan.

PICS OF OU and RICE FINAL GAME #2

Caufield makes a great catch
"Ouch!!!"
Cole St. Clair didn't get a save, but saved the Owls
Lehmann fires to first.

PICS OF OU and RICE FINAL GAME

"You've GOT to be kidding!" NOPE!! YER OUT!
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
J-Rod puts the HR swing on this pitch in the 1st.
Caufield leaps in vain for J-Rod's home run.
J-Rod gets a great welcome after crossing home.

Pictures Coming Soon

Pictures from today's game will be up later this evening. We will feature as many as this blog will let us get away with. Watch for updates not only tonight, but throughout the week. We will have game action aswell as post-game pictures.

OWLS WIN!

OM-A-HA! OM-A-HA!
By Mark Anderson

In a one game, winner take all match, the Rice Owls defeated the Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 9-5 to advance to the College World Series. The Owls will play the winner of the South Carolina-Georgia game tonight in the opening game of the College World Series.

Rice’s high noon shootout didn’t start out so well—but that actually may have been a blessing in disguise. Craig Crow, tabbed by Coach Graham, was not on his game—and on a very short leash to boot. Caufield was hit by a 3-0 pitch to open the game. Raley singled to center—the only hit off of Crow. That single moved Caufield to third. Crow then walked Rohlinger, and Smith followed with a sacrifice fly top plate3 Caufield. Frank Rodriguez grounded to deep short to bring in the second run of the inning, and that was where Wayne Graham brought the quick hook—and Cole St. Clair. Cole would later laugh and say, “It was fun to see the pitcher I used to be” in reference to starting and going deep into the game. Graham looked at Cole and said, “The pitcher you used to be?”

Graham explained afterwards that he had told St. Clair to be ready early. “You can’t afford to get down with a card like that unplayed. He’s one of the premium pitchers in the country and it would have been foolish for the game to be out of hand before he got in there. It just wasn’t going to happen.”

Rice answered in the bottom of the first when with one out, Greg Buchanan walked. After Friday flied out, Josh Rodriguez stepped to the plate. On a 1-0 count, Mottern made his first mistake of the game by buzzing J-Rod up and in. The next pitch was his second—away—and J-Rod was ready for it, stroking it down the right field line for a two run homer to even the game. That was the beginning of the end for Mottern, who followed with walks to Savery and Luna before being lifted. Brownell got the next out, but the damage had already been done.

IN the third, Oklahoma got a run of St. Clair when Raley singled through the left side, and then stole second. He came home on a booming double by Smith to take the lead, 3-2.

The Owls answered in the bottom of the fourth when Luna led off in the bottom of the fourth with a homer to left to tie the game. But Oklahoma answered in the fifth when Raley homered to give the Sooners a 4-3 lead. St. Clair told me afterwards that on that pitch, his foot slipped as he delivered the pitch and it caused it to come in high.

The Owls didn’t answer in the bottom of the fifth, and fans in Reckling started to get a little jittery. But this team has come back from behind all year long, and come back they did—with a big five spot. In the sixth, Danny Lehmann led off with a single to right. Henley walked on a 3-1 pitch. That brought Joe Savage in top pitch for the Sooners, and Greg Buchanan greeted him with a single. That loaded the bases, but Brian Friday, usually a clutch hitter in these situations, popped up. But Josh Rodriguez picked him—and the Owls –up with a solid single through the left side that scored two. That brought up Joe Savery, who homered to right centerfield on a 1-2 pitch to put the exclamation point on the inning—and the season.

Joe Savery has had his ups and downs this season, but lately has become a pitcher’s nightmare in these situations. After the game, Joe talked about how some players just rise to the occasion. I asked him what in his opinion makes the difference between someone who can perform in those situations and those who can’t. He told me that in his opinion, the difference was understanding who you are, and “one play should not define you or one at-bat.”

After Savery homered, Luna hit a booming double to right, and then the fun really began as assistant coach Andrew McGuire was ejected for calling balls and strikes. That led to head coach Sonny Golloway’s imitation of Billy Martin when he covered up home plate with dirt—and was ejected as well. The second ejection was one that escaped many. But it did cause quite a delay in the game, and Kenny Ford and Jordan Dodson struck out to end the sixth. However, the Owls had the lead they would never relinquish.

Cole St. Clair began the seventh by hitting Hughes with a pitch, and that brought Graham out with t he hook. Bryce Cox came in, and shut the door the rest of the way, striking out four while giving up only two hits over the final three innings. Cox made the last out himself when he fielded a slow roller and tagged out Raley to end the ballgame and put the Owls in the College World Series.

NEXT STOP:


The COLLEGE WORLD SERIES!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Pics From Sunday

Daniel McCutchen came up big for OU
Guess who's not happy about the OWls' performance?
Headed to third
Bobby Bell delivers

Pics From Saturday's 11-5 Win

J-Rod congratulated by Graham after homer
Friday sparked the Owls with this 3 run blast
Henley welcomes Friday home
Aaron Luna blasts another homer on this pitch
Lehmann congratulates Cox on a fine effort

HIGH NOON SHOOT-OUT FOR TRIP TO OMAHA

Baseball Style Red River Shoot-Out

By Mark Anderson
A 12:06 pm official starting time has been announced for Game 3 between Oklahoma and Rice. This is a one game, winner take all series now, with Craig Crow going to the mound to try and send the Owls to the College World Series in Omaha at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Hope to see you there! Bring some suntan lotion! And most of all—bring your enthusiam and support for this team. They deserve it!

Rice Lead Evaporates

Sooners Offense Boom For 11 Runs, Showdown
By Mark Anderson

The noon time start was a typical sizzling day in Houston—and so was the early offense for the Rice Owls. While the offense for Rice was hot in the early going, it seemed to evaporate facing Daniel McCutchen, who came up big for the Sooners on this hot day.

Rice got things started when Joe Savery led off the second inning to put the Owls on the scoreboard. In the top of the third, Kenny Ford—yes, that’s right, fans, Kenny Ford—smacked the first pitch he saw deep over the right centerfield scoreboard to put the Owls up 2-1. “I was looking for a fastball,” Kenny told me afterwards, “and I got it right here” pointing to his chest). McCutchen sheepishly explained afterwards, “The first home run [to Savery] was low, but the second one. . . that was my ‘hit a home run off of me’ pitch.”

In the top of the fourth, the Owls seemed to put some distance between the Sooners and themselves. Savery singled to right, and Luna tried to bunt and blooped it over the pitcher’s head for a single. Zornes reached on aq fielder’s choice as Savery was cut down at third by McCutchen. Dodson popped up to second for the second out, but Kenny Ford doubled off the left field wall, scoring Luna and Zornes. Henley followed with a double to left-center to bring home Ford and make the score 5-1.

This lead looked great with Bobby Bell on the mound. But Bell had been having problems of his own to that point, and now the Sooners would begin to exploit them. Rodriguez started the inning off with an infield single, and Kaiser followed with a double. Kaiser came home when Dodson’s throw was off-line. Reza was then hit by a pitch. Williams followed with a run scoring single. Hughes grounded out to third to first on a sacrifice, moving Williams to second and Reza to third. Reza scored on a wild pitch by Bobby Bell. At this point, Bobby Bell was replaced by Bobby Bramhall. Caufield greeted Bramhall with a single right back through the box that scored Williams. Raley then reached on a fielder’s choice, but the relay on the grounder was dropped, leaving Caufield at second. Caufield then stole third, where Rolhinger brought him in on a sacrifice fly to right, Raley stole second, but was stranded there by Smith striking out. The lead had evaporated—for good.

McCutchen got the boost he needed from that inning. Beginning with the last batter of the fourth inning, he set down the next fourteen Owls “that fourth inning picked me up.” While the Owls tried to rally in the ninth, it was far too late, as the Sooners had added on more runs to make it an 11-5 lead.

The final game of this super-regional will determine which of these two teams advances to Omaha. The Owls will send Craig Crow to the hill to try and reach the College World Series. Game time is tentatively set for 12:00 noon, but may be changed at 9 pm tonight. You can find the information on tomorrow’s game time at www.riceowls.com and we will also post it here, along with pictures of Saturday and Sunday’s game.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

One Win Away From Omaha

Rice’s Booming Bats Power Owls Past Sooners
By Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls came out on a mission tonight against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sparked by a three run homer in the first inning by Brian Friday, the Owls went on to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 10-4.

Tyler Henley led off the first for Rice and was promptly hit by a Steven Guerra pitch. This would set the tone for the evening, as Rice would put runners on twice by being hit, four times by being walked, and by an error. Greg Buchanan followed with a single. As Henley rounded second, he missed the base with his feet, but caught it with his hand and advanced to third. That brought up Brian Friday. Friday told me afterwards he was looking for a curveball, and curveball he got—right down Broadway. “I knew it was gone as soon as I hit it,” Brian said. And anyone watching could see the emotional lift that home run gave the Owls. Even Friday, who rarely shows emotion, did so. “It’s the most important game of the year,” Brian explained about the show of emotion.

But the Owls weren’t finished in the first. Josh Rodriguez stepped up to the plate, and before you could blink an eye, his swing of the bat produced the second homer in the inning. The Owls jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, one they would never relinquish.

The Sooners would answer in the top of the second with two runs of their own. It looked the inning was going to be an easy one for Degerman when he struck out the first two batters. But remember the old adage about two out walks? Eddie walked Reza on a 3-1 pitch. He followed that by hitting Williams. Hughes singled through the right side to plate the first Sooner run. Caufield reached on Friday’s error, and Williams scored from second to make it a 4-2 game.

But the Owls answered with two of their own in the third. With one out, Danny Lehmann doubled to left. Tyler Henley had an infield single that moved Lehmann to third. Lehmann would score on Buchanan’s single, and Henley stopped at second. He wasn’t there long—two wild pitches later, he scored. The Owls had a commanding 6-2 lead.

With the score 7-2 in the seventh, the Owls punctuated their effort with a bang. Aaron Luna opened the inning with a home run. Hammons came on to pitch, and Zornes hammered a pitch from him to deep left center for a double. After Dodson struck out, Lehmann stepped to the plate and drilled a home run to left to cap off the Rice scoring.

Bobby Bell will take the ball for the Owls tomorrow in their quest to reach the College World Series. Game time is twelve noon.

Friday, June 09, 2006

More Pics From Regional Championship Game

Coach Graham speaks about the Owls' victory
Dodson: "We stiill have things to work on this week"
Travis Reagan (blue shirt) still invaluable to Owls.
Greg Buchanan is all business in getting ready to hit.
Zornes drove this pitch for a double in the 5th inning,
Luna singled to right on this swing of the bat.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

OWLS BLAST BY BAYLOR, SUPER REGIONAL BOUND

J-ROD’S HOMER KEY BLAST
By Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls got their wish Monday—“one and done’—by defeating a very spirited Baylor team by a score of 7-4. With the win, the Owls move into the super-regional round, and will play Oklahoma next Saturday, Sunday, and Monday here at Reckling Park.

Joe Savery pitched well enough for five innings to get the win, making adjustments throughout his outing to be effective against the Bears. Savery survived a shaky third inning, and from that point on, was very effective against the Bears. Adam Zornes told me afterwards that Savery made several adjustments after the third inning. Those adjustments, like using one pitch to set up another, helped Savery hang around long enough to get the win.

While Savery survived a shaky third, the Bears did not. Tyler Henley led off the third inning with a single—one of four hits on the day. After Buchanan pooped out and Friday flied out to left, Josh Rodriguez got a fastball up and away and lifted it over the outstretched glove of Kevin Sevigny for a two run homer. “They had been pitching me low and away, “Josh told me afterwards, “but this fastball was up and I hit it to the shortest part of the ballpark.”

But the Owls weren’t finished yet. Joe Savery stepped to the plate and singled back through the middle. Aaron Luna then singled to right, moving Savery to second. Adam Zornes then ripped a belt-high pitch down the left field line to drive in two more runs. That brought Jordan Dodson to the plate, who laced a triple into right, scoring Zornes. Lehmann flied out to roght to end the inning, but the Owls had put together five consecutive hits—2 singles, a double, a triple, and a home run—with two outs. Needles to say, Tim Matthews did not come back for the fourth. He was tagged with ten hits and five runs in three innings.

That wasn’t the case with Joe Savery today. Suddenly, Savery got into a nice little groove in the fourth, mixing his pitches and challenging the hitters. Savery retired the last six in order—three grounders, two strikeouts and one popup (and a partridge in a pear tree). Joe found what he needed the most—his control. Seth Fortenberry confessed afterwards, “I had trouble with Savery’s slider today.” Joe also noticed something important. “I decided their hitters wanted to be aggressive and swing their bats, so rather than try and go after them, I let them get themselves out.”

Baylor’s last gasp to get even came in the sixth. Will McDaniel had come on to pitch for Savery. Last Sunday, using this same script, McDaniel was unbelievable. Unfortunately, Will was not nearly as hot as he was last Sunday. After Beamer Weems struck out to begin the sixth, Zach Dillion walked. Tim Jackson followed with a single. After Pankratz flied out, it looked like Will was going to play Houdini again. But Gerdes was then walked on four pitches, and Wayne Graham made the call to Bryce Cox. Sevigny grounded out, and just like that, the Bears’ threat was gone.

The Bears would finally break through in the seventh with a run, but anyone watching the game couldn’t help but notice that Bryce Cox had it going this day. While Cox did allow four hits and a run, he didn’t walk a batter and he did strike out four in the process. Graham brought Cole St. Clair on in the ninth, and he immediately ended the threat and the game.

Next up for the Owls is the Super Regional playoffs, hosted by Rice. Rice’s opponent will be an Oklahoma Sooners team that has its’ eyes cast towards Rosenblatt Stadium as well. The schedule for the games begins with a Saturday game at 6 pm. Saturday’s game will be in the early afternoon, as will the Sunday game if needed.

Pics From Regional Championship Game

Buchanan fires to first in the 9th
Jackson watches another Henley hit elude him
Kenny Ford had the right idea on this blistering hot day.
Bryce Cox played good ol' country hardball Monday.
Friday slides into second.
A rare sight--a pitcher (Bryce Cox) smiling on Graham's visit to the mound.

Monday, June 05, 2006

IMPRESSIVE!

Degerman Dominates Baylor; Owls Play Again Monday for Regional Championship
By Mark Anderson

The story of Sunday’s game against Baylor came down to two words: Eddie Degerman. “Steady Eddie” Degerman was simply outstanding today, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning (although not a “no-no”). Eddie kept the Owls off stride with his masterful mix of fastballs, curves, and occasional changeup. Using this assortment of pitches. Degerman baffled the Bears, striking out fourteen along the way while walking only two. While there were no radar gun readings readily available, Coach Graham said afterwards, “I believe that’s the hardest he’s thrown all year.”

Rice jumped on Baylor early as Tyler Henley smashed the first pitch of the game down the right side. Buchanan singled in Henley to give the Owls a quick 1-0 lead they would never relinquish. Friday moved Buchanan up to second, and Josh Rodriguez smashed the first pitch he saw down the left field line to score Buchanan. Joe Savery then singled to bring in Rodriguez to make it 3-0.

The Owls added another run in the second when Jordan Dodson singled up the middle, and Ford moved him to second on a bunt. Henley singled to drive in Dodson and give the Owls what looked like an insurmountable lead.

The reason the lead looked so insurmountable was Eddie Degerman. Degerman was perfect in the first three innings. With one out in the fourth, Fortenberry walked tro break up the perfect game. A wild pitch moved him to second, and eventually Dillion walked. Beamer Weems stepped to the plate and grounded back to Eddie, who met Weems and applied the tag down the first base line. A ground ball to the sure-handed Buchanan eluded him, and the first run for the Bears scored, albeit without a hit. The score at the end of four innings was 4-2, Owls.

Baylor finally broke up the no-hit bid as Jackson singled up the middle, and was advanced to second on a bunt. Bias singled to right, but the rocket arm of Jordan Dodson convinced the Bears to hold the runner. That set up the weird play of the day. Bias laid down a bunt. The throw to short got Bias, and Jackson decided to risk coming home. Hopefully this young man will take a risk management class, because in spite of a high throw, Lehmann, came down and applied a very difficult tag to Jackson to end the inning. That left the score at 4-1.

If there was any doubt about this game, the seventh inning erased all of them. With one out, Henley drew a walk. Buchanan reached on a fielder’s choice, but the shortstop fell down on the play and made an erratic throw from his backside, and Henley was safe at second. Friday singled to drive in Henley. Then the second weird play of the game happened. J-Rod was drilled in the helmet with the pitch, and went down, but had to show the ump the imprint of the baseball on his helmet to be awarded first. Savery’s fly to left scored Buchanan. Aaron Luna was then hit by another pitch, and Danny Lehmann walked, forcing in another run. Dodson’s hard liner to center ended it for the Owls, but they were in the driver’s seat by a score of 7-2.

Coach Graham handed the keys of the car to Cole St. Clair in the ninth inning, and he was also impressive, striking out the side.

The Owls play for the Regional championship this afternoon at 4 pm. Should Baylor win, they will play a one game, winner-take-all game. Should be a GREAT game. Hope to see you there! Get out of the office and come get a tan—and see the top-ranked team in the country to boot!

Sunday, June 04, 2006

PICTURES FROM RICE-BAYLOR SUNDAY

Henley rounds third and scores first run
Lehmann makes a great stab at Savery's high throw. . .
applies an acrobatic tag. . . .
And gets the out.
J-Rod bobbled this grounder. . .
recovers quickly. . . and guns down the runner at first by a step.
Ed-die! Ed-die! Ed-die!

Cole St. Clair closed the game by fanning the side in the 9th.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Pics From PVAM and Rice

Paul Johnson lays in agony after stiking out in the 9th.

Luna answers Graham's Serendipity Prayer with this swing.
Coach Robertson listens to the explanation.

Lehmann fires to first on the game-changing interference play.
Jordan Dodson singles to center to drive in the Owls' first run.
Bobby Bell came up big in this game.
Lester safe at third on this steal.
White steals second the second time in the game.
White steals second (his first steal).